Optimus brought Liliy to the infirmary and left her in the care of the head medic, Ratchet, while he went and looked into the living and working conditions of the servants and slaves in the palace. He never liked the idea of slavery, but he could not outlaw it because of the backlash he would receive. He did, however, pass laws that made the slaves' lives easier and viewed them as people. It was possible to be executed for murdering one's own slaves under these laws. But to think that, right here in his own palace, the slaves were not being treated properly made him angry. He stopped in the hallway and balled his fists, remembering Liliy's frail appearance. They had made her work like that?

There were footsteps coming toward him. He inhaled and then exhaled, erasing his presence as he did. It was a skill he had picked up from Alpha Trion, but he never used it much because he was never one to sneak around. Two servants appeared around the corner, chatting quietly and carrying baskets of folded laundry. Optimus stepped aside and let them pass. They seemed clean and well fed, content enough in their work. He frowned and continued on.

When he finally entered the servants' portion of the palace, it was quite evident who the hired servants were and who the slaves were. He had not realized he had stopped until an older child carrying a bucket of water bumped into him. The bucket crashed to the floor, spilling water everywhere. In his surprise, Optimus canceled his skill. The child, obviously a slave, looked horrified and immediately dropped to their knees and bowed to the floor in the puddle of water. They were apologizing profusely and begging him not to punish them.

The commotion had alerted the rest of the servants, and all work ceased when they realized the Prime was there. They were waiting to see how he would react. Optimus looked around at the faces watching. Some showed pity, others none at all.

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" a loud voice suddenly shouted.

All the servants flinched, almost as one. They all immediately started working again.

"WHAT WERE YOU ALL GAWKING A-ah ah!" The head of the servants was still yelling angrily as he came around the corner, and then he saw Optimus. The switch was instantaneous. "Your majesty! What are you doing here? Is there something I can help you with?"

He came closer and saw the fallen bucket and the still bowing child and that some of the spilled water had gotten on Optimus.

"It seems this child has wronged you," he said almost gleefully. "I will see to it that they are properly punished."

The child flinched and trembled.

"That will not be necessary," Optimus replied. "It was an accident that was entirely my fault."

"But, your majesty-"

Optimus interrupted him. "There is something I do want to know though."

"Yes?" he asked, head tilted, eager to please. "What is that, your majesty?"

Optimus took a step forward and loomed over him. "Why are the laws I put in place not being followed in my own palace?"

The head servant immediately shrank back a step, wringing his hands nervously. "Uh, hah… I'm not sure what you mean, your majesty."

"The half-starved slave I pulled out of the dungeon not an hour ago, " Optimus said as he glared down at the man. "This child at my feet trembling with fear and begging me not to punish them. The state of the rest of the slaves here." He gestured to the room that had stopped working again to listen. "Perhaps you don't see anything wrong with it because you are the cause of it!" Turning abruptly, he yelled for the guards.

"No- Wait- Your majesty!" the head servant tried to explain while the guards came running.

"Arrest him!" Optimus jabbed a finger at the head servant.

The guards caught the servant's arms.

"I will be conducting an investigation into what has been going on here," Optimus said, "and I will decide your punishment later." To the guards, "Take him away!"

As the guards dragged the servant off, Optimus crouched and gently lifted the child off the floor. He stood up again with the child, confused and wet, in his arms.

"Who is the next in charge here?" he asked the others.

"I am." A stern looking, older woman with charcoal gray hair stepped forward.

"What's your name?"

"Charlie, your majesty."

"Then, Charlie, you've just been promoted. Please ensure that conditions improve. I hope that when I come here again, I will not be disappointed."

"I will do my best, your majesty," she said with a bow.

"Also, please see that this child," he set the child on their feet, "is dried off and given something to eat. Also, they are not to be punished for today's incident."

"Yes, your majesty."


Ultra Magnus and Prowl were waiting for Optimus outside his office when he returned from changing out of his wet clothes. Ultra opened the door for him and then the knights followed him inside.

"Your majesty, I heard you went to the servants' wing and arrested the head servant," said Ultra as Prowl closed the door.

"That is correct, Ultra," Optimus replied, taking a seat at his desk. "Did you know about the conditions over there?"

"I did not, your majesty."

"What about you, Prowl?" Optimus asked, looking up at him.

Prowl shifted uncomfortably. "I regret to say that I did not."

Optimus raised an eyebrow. "And you're the one who's in charge of security? Not to mention, a stickler for the rules. But given your behavior toward Liliy earlier today, I'm not very surprised."

Prowl bowed his head. "I apologize, your majesty."

"As punishment, I think I'll assign you to head the investigation of those conditions," said Optimus, leaning back in his chair. "The new head servant's name is Charlie. Please cooperate with her. You may make arrests if need be but no dishing out punishments without consulting me first. Got it?"

"Yes, your majesty," Prowl said with a salute and a bow.

"Good. Then you are dismissed."